I just can't seem to catch a break lately.I'm now in full freakin' sweatin' bullets mode here.
Man, did I ever underestimate the downswing of this economy. Despite my years of experience, there seems to be nothing for me. And I'm looking everywhere. Prospects are worse than bleak, they're life-threateningly dire.
I posted last week about the "romantic" (in a Jack Kerouac way) idea of giving up rent for life on the road, living out of my car. But seriously folks, could this be as freeing a lifestyle as some websites would have you believe?
And I have to take into account my personal obstacles to this vision:
1. My weight and health would make the confined spaces and poorly-controlled climate of that existence supremely uncomfortable, if not simply impossible.
2. I can't pee in public restrooms let alone bathe, dress and shave there. I'd be afraid to be "caught" every second.
3. How many times would cops be rousting me before they decide to take me "downtown"? Like I need that. So I'd become Peter Paranoia every evening wasting valuable gas looking for a good "sleeping spot" to avoid detection from the police who have nothing better to do than hassle homeless people.
4. Unless I throw off the drunken monkey on my back I'd be looking at my 3rd DUI. Doesn't matter if I was only going to sleep in my car, not drive it after drinking...in Florida, it's a DUI to simply have the keys on you while you're in the car. Even if you're sound asleep, nestled burrito-style inside fluffy comforters and pillows halfway between your trunk and backseat.
5. Um, I don't "out-right" own the car. Still owe the finance company a bit more than 2 years of payments. Don't make payments...don't keep car...lose "shelter"...become TRULY homeless. So I would still need to make at least roughly $600 a month for car payment, insurance, gas and have about $100 left over for everything else. Hope I get no tickets or unexpected expenses since that leftover $100 would have to cover food, laundry, car wash, showers, medications, toiletries...shit, no way just a hundred could cover all that!
So even if I worked at Disney doing entry-level work like fast food or janitorial (which I actually would prefer to some low-end telemarketing work right now) I'd make $7.60 an hour. So I'd have to work at least 25 hours a week. Hmmm, that actually sounds quite doable.
An alternative plan would be to sell Nugget.
A 2007 Chevy Cobalt SE sedan with 35000 miles and in excellent condition goes for $7855 (private party sale). I owe $3885 on it. Unlike a lot of people, thankfully, this means I'm very "right-side up" (thanks to my $5000 down payment). Even if I only got around $7K for it, I'd still be looking at over $3K profit! The downside, of course, is I then wouldn't have a car. I'd be back to the buses again. Unless I wanted to buy a piece of crap for under $3000. You have to be lucky to get something decent at that price. And I ain't lucky.
I'm in freakazoid mode right now 'cause it's gettin' down to the wire. No, I'm not broke yet but I know all too well from experience that it comes quickly. Even freezes on spending and cutting costs, a person will burn very quickly through savings when no money is coming in.
I keep dreaming that I'll scan the numerous employment sites I scour each day and stumble upon "the perfect job". But it's hard, since that opportunity will close up fast as soon as the thousand other sad sacks like me who are also freaking out snatch that up before I even click "send" on my emailed application with my sickly resume attached.